Ready for departure: Travellers waiting at Subang Airport, which is gearing up for major works to be finished by 2030. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star
SUBANG: As Subang Airport gears up for major redevelopment that will be completed by 2030, travellers and workers call for improved road traffic management around the area.
With plans to upgrade the 477.33ha airport and its surrounding area, industry insiders say the current connectivity and road conditions need to catch up.
“The access roads in and out of the airport can get very congested, especially during peak travel times on weekdays,” said airport taxi driver Zack Mizan.
“Travellers often need to make two U-turns when exiting the airport to head to the Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway (DASH) and Ara Damansara area to go to Kuala Lumpur, making it very inconvenient,” he said when met here yesterday.
Zack, 50, who has worked at the airport for 15 years, believes a more direct connectivity to DASH could alleviate the issue.
“We should have more direct connectivity to DASH, which is so close to the airport, without having to make a U-turn far away.
“The extra journey takes time, especially during peak hours. This may require the government to acquire or utilise land owned by the Defence Ministry for a better access road. I hope that this can be done one day,” he said.
With the area surrounding the airport characterised by early and scattered development and underutilised vacant land, Zack said “better planning and utilisation” could help restore the bustle the airport precinct once enjoyed.
“As Subang Airport embarks on its ambitious expansion, addressing these longstanding infrastructure challenges will be crucial in supporting the airport’s growth over the next decade,” he added.
A ground employee, who wanted to be known only as Amin, 35, said the main road needs upgrading, noting that “the stretch closer to the airport is still two-lane while other areas have three lanes”.
He added that the airport’s proximity to industrial zones has led to uneven, flood-prone roads.
“The Transport Ministry needs to resolve this with the local authorities,” he said.
A food and beverage outlet supervisor at the airport, who wanted to be known as Zawiyah, said the peak weekday hours are between 7.30am and 9.30am, and between 5pm and 7.30pm.
“It is very jammed here during these hours. I have seen many passengers who missed their flight because they did not factor in the traffic,” she said.
Frequent business traveller Shaun Chen, 41, said he likes the easy access to Subang Airport, often parking at the open-air lot to fly to Penang or Johor Baru for day trips.
“However, I believe the airport’s overall appearance and its external look and feel could use some work.
“I’m eager to see the airport being upgraded into a vibrant, modern and attractive landmark of Subang,” he said.
In February, Putrajaya approved the Subang Airport Regeneration Plan (SARP) to upgrade the airport and its surrounding area by 2030.
The plan will transform the aerotropolis into a business aviation hub, aerospace ecosystem and city airport.
SARP includes developing the site into a drone test area and aircraft maintenance facility, among other initiatives.
